Scott Walker (politician)
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| Scott K. Walker
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| Assumed office 2002 |
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| Born | November 2, 1967 Colorado Springs, Colorado |
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| Nationality | American |
| Political party | Republican |
| Spouse | Tonette Walker |
| Children | Matthew, Alex |
| Residence | Wauwatosa, Wisconsin |
| Alma mater | Marquette University |
| Religion | Baptist |
| Website | http://scottwalker.org |
Scott K. Walker (born November 2, 1967) is an American politician and the current county executive of Milwaukee County, Wisconsin. He has been involved in Wisconsin politics since 1993.
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[edit] Political career
On June 29, 1993, Walker was elected in a special election to the Wisconsin State Assembly to represent the 14th district, which covered Wauwatosa, Wisconsin. He chaired the Committee on Corrections & the Courts while also serving on the Assembly Committee on Health, the Assembly Committee on Census & Redistricting, the Assembly Committee on Financial Institutions and the Assembly Committee on Housing. He won reelection several times for successive two-year terms.
He first won the job of Milwaukee County Executive in a special election on April 30, 2002, after the former county executive Tom Ament was ousted in a pension-fund scandal. He ran on a platform that primarily featured fiscal responsibility, and voluntarily reduced his own salary after taking office. He was re-elected in 2004 after running against former Wisconsin state budget director David Reimer.
Walker announced on January 24, 2005 that he would run for Governor of Wisconsin as a Republican in 2006 against the current governor, Democrat Jim Doyle.[1] However, on March 24, 2006, Walker announced that he would no longer seek the 2006 Republican nomination, citing concerns about his funding sources and his desire to ensure that his challenger Mark Green had full party support to win the governorship.[2] It is likely that Walker will once again run for the office of Governor again in 2010. He and Congressman Paul Ryan led the straw poll at the state's Republican Convention
On Sunday December 2nd, 2007 Walker Officially announced his bid for re-election in April 2008. His main opposition from the Democrats, State Senator Lena Taylor, has announced that she will also run for the position.
Scott Walker has been outspoken on his resistance to light rail in Milwaukee. As a result, he has stalled many proposals for mass transit improvements in the Southeastern Wisconsin region. He also raised bus fares to $2.00, making MCTS fares tied with New York and Chicago for the most expensive in the nation.
[edit] Personal life
Walker was born to Llew and Pat Walker in Colorado Springs, Colorado. His family moved when he was an infant to Plainfield, Iowa, and then to Delavan, Wisconsin, in 1977. He is married to Tonette Walker (born in 1953), and they have two children, Matthew and Alex.
Walker graduated from Delavan-Darien High School in Delavan in 1986. He attended Marquette University from 1986 to 1990, but left before graduating to work for the American Red Cross.
[edit] Executive's Ride
In each of the past three summers (2004, 2005, and 2006), Walker has led an extensive motorcycle tour throughout Wisconsin and parts of Illinois and Minnesota. [1] The ride seeks to attract tourists to travel to Milwaukee County and visit its attractions.
[edit] References
- Wisconsin Blue Book, 1999-2000 edition
- ScottWalker.org, [2]
- ^ Umhoefer, Dave. "Walker launches gubernatorial bid" Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. January 25, 2005
- ^ "Green Statement on Campaign Announcement by Milwaukee County Executive Scott Walker" News release by Green for Wisconsin. March 24, 2006
[edit] External links
- Scott Walker, Milwaukee County Executive
- Milwaukee County Executive website
- Walker's record as state legislator
| Preceded by Janine Geske |
Milwaukee County Executive 2002 - present |
Succeeded by incumbent |
